Diaphragm pumping device

ABSTRACT

A diaphragm pumping device includes a housing having a partition to form an upper chamber and a lower chamber, an inlet port for receiving a fluid, and an outlet port, a bladder attached to the housing and having a compartment communicating with the chambers of the housing, two check valves disposed between the bladder and the chambers of the housing, and an electro-magnetic device actuates the arm to depress and to expand the bladder in order to draw the fluid form the inlet port of the housing toward the outlet port of the housing, the outlet port is communicating with the lower chamber of the housing for allowing the fluid to be completely pumped out of the lower chamber of the housing.

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/378,942, filed 17 Mar. 2006, pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a diaphragm pumping device, and more particularly to a diaphragm pumping device for vacuuming or air pumping purposes and for allowing the fluid to be effectively pumped.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical air pumping devices or air compressors comprise a piston slidably received and engaged in a cylinder housing, and a motor driving device coupled to a piston rod for moving or driving the piston to move in reciprocating action within the cylinder housing, in order to generate and to supply a pressurized air to inflate various objects.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,611 to Babbitt et al. discloses one of the typical sinus evacuator apparatuses comprising a housing including a vacuum producing compartment, a mucus collecting compartment, a sterilizing compartment, and a storage compartment, a suction pervious barrier separates the mucus collecting compartment from the vacuum producing compartment, and a motor having a driving axle connected with a rotatable propeller which is effective to produce only a suction to draw through a catheter.

However, the mucus may not be effectively collected with the typical sinus evacuator apparatus.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,385 to Wang discloses a typical dual diaphragm pump with adjustable discharge side pressure trip switch comprising a dual piston device coupled to a motor driving device via an eccentric transmission device for generating and supplying a pressurized air to inflate various objects.

However, the movement and thus pumping operation of the disk shaped suction disk is limited.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional diaphragm pumping devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a diaphragm pumping device for being actuated or operated by an electric actuating device, and for fluid vacuuming or pumping purposes or operations and for allowing the fluid to be effectively pumped.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a diaphragm pumping device comprising a housing including a partition provided therein to separate an inner portion of the housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the housing including an inlet port provided thereon and communicating with the upper chamber thereof for receiving a fluid, and including an outlet port provided thereon and communicating with the lower chamber thereof, a bladder attached to the housing and including a compartment formed therein and communicating with the upper chamber and the lower chamber of the housing, a first check valve attached to the housing and disposed between the bladder and the upper chamber of the housing and arranged to allow the fluid to flow from the upper chamber of the housing into the bladder only and to prevent the fluid from flowing backward from the bladder into the upper chamber of the housing, a second check valve attached to the housing and disposed between the bladder and the lower chamber of the housing and arranged to allow the fluid to flow from the bladder into the lower chamber of the housing only and to prevent the fluid from flowing backward from the lower chamber of the housing into the bladder, an arm attached to the bladder, a magnetic member attached to the arm, and an electro-magnetic device to actuate the magnetic member and to operate the arm to depress and to expand the bladder in order to draw the fluid form the inlet port of the housing toward the outlet port of the housing.

The housing includes an orifice and an aperture formed therein and communicating with the upper and the lower chambers of the housing respectively, the first and the second check valves each includes a shank extended therefrom for engaging through the housing, and each includes a ratchet catch provided on the shank for engaging with the housing to anchor and secure the first and the second check valves to the housing, and each includes a blade provided on the shank for engaging with the housing and for selectively blocking the orifice and the aperture of the housing respectively.

The housing includes a retainer provided thereon, and the arm includes a first end pivotally coupled to the retainer of the housing, and a second end having the magnetic member attached thereto. The housing includes a dovetail slot formed therein, and the retainer includes a dovetail member slidably engaged in the dovetail slot of the housing.

The housing includes a stop slidably engaged with the dovetail slot of the housing and engaged with the retainer for anchoring the retainer to the housing. The housing includes at least one catch extended therefrom and located beside the dovetail slot of the housing member and the retainer for engaging with the arm and for anchoring the arm to the housing. The arm includes a pivot pin attached to the first end of the arm and engaged with the retainer.

An outer receptacle is further provided and includes a base member to support the housing and the electro-magnetic device. The outer receptacle includes at least one cushioning member to cushion the housing and the electro-magnetic device.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an air compressing assembly having a diaphragm pumping device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the air compressing assembly;

FIG. 3 is another partial exploded view illustrating the diaphragm pumping device of the air compressing assembly;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the diaphragm pumping device, taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is another cross sectional view of the diaphragm pumping device, taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a further cross sectional view of the diaphragm pumping device, taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a still further cross sectional view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating the other operation of the diaphragm pumping device;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating other arrangement of the diaphragm pumping device;

FIG. 9 is a partial exploded view of the diaphragm pumping device as shown in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10, 11, 12 are cross sectional views taken along lines 10-10, 11-11, 12-12 of FIG. 8 respectively;

FIG. 13 is a further cross sectional view similar to FIG. 12, illustrating the other operation of the diaphragm pumping device as shown in FIGS. 8-12;

FIG. 14 is a further partial perspective view similar to FIG. 8, illustrating further arrangements of the diaphragm pumping device;

FIG. 15 is a partial exploded view of the diaphragm pumping device as shown in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is a still further partial exploded view of the diaphragm pumping device as shown in FIGS. 14-15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, an air compressing assembly 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises an outer receptacle 10 including a base member 11 and an upper cover member (not shown) to be secured to the base member 11 with latches or fasteners (not shown), or by welding processes, and including a plug (not shown) for coupling to an electric energy source and for receiving an electric energy to energize the air compressing assembly 1. An electro-magnetic device 20 is attached or disposed on the base member 11 of the receptacle 10 for generating an electro-magnetic field or force to actuate or operate the air compressing assembly 1.

The air compressing assembly 1 further includes one or more (such as two) diaphragm pumping devices 3 disposed or supported on the base member 11 of the receptacle 10 and attached or disposed beside the electro-magnetic device 20 for being actuated or operated by the electro-magnetic device 20, which will be discussed hereinafter. It is preferable that the outer receptacle 10 includes a number of pads or cushioning legs or members 12 disposed below the outer receptacle 10 for cushioning the electro-magnetic device 20 and the diaphragm pumping devices 3 and for reducing a vibration of the electro-magnetic device 20 and the diaphragm pumping devices 3 and the outer receptacle 10.

One example of the electro-magnetic device 20 and the diaphragm pumping device 3 has been disclosed in the applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 7,351,235 which may be taken as a reference for the present invention. The other example of the electro-magnetic device and the diaphragm pumping device has also been disclosed in the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/378,942, filed 17 Mar. 2006, which may also be taken as a reference for the present invention. The above-described electro-magnetic device 20 is not related to the present invention and will not be described in further details. The diaphragm pumping devices 3 in accordance with the present invention has been improved over the prior developed diaphragm pumping devices.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, two diaphragm pumping devices 3 are disclosed and each include a housing 30 having such as two housing members 31, 32 to be anchored or secured together with such as a peripheral recess and peripheral protrusion engagement 33 (FIGS. 4-7), latches or fasteners (not shown), or the like for solidly anchoring or securing the two housing members 31, 32 together. The two housing members 31, 32 may further be solidly coupled and secured together with such as adhesive materials, or by welding processes. The housing 30 includes a partition 34 provided therein, such as extended from the housing members 31, 32 to separate the inner portion of the housing 30 into two chambers 35, 36, such as an upper chamber 35 and a lower chamber 36, as best shown in FIGS. 3-7.

The housing 30 further includes an inlet tube or port 37 provided thereon or extended therefrom, such as extended from one of the housing members 32 and communicating with the upper chamber 35 thereof for receiving a fluid or liquid or air (FIG. 6) and for allowing the fluid or liquid or air to selectively flow into the upper chamber 35 of the housing 30. The housing 30 further includes an outlet tube or port 38 provided thereon or extended therefrom, such as extended from one of the housing members 32 and communicating with the other or lower chamber 36 thereof for allowing the fluid or liquid or air to selectively flow out of the lower chamber 36 of the housing 30 (FIG. 7).

It is to be noted that the outlet port 38 is formed or provided on the lower portion of the housing 30 such that the fluid or liquid received in the lower chamber 36 of the housing 30 may be effectively and completely forced to flow out of the lower chamber 36 of the housing 30. The inlet tubes or ports 37 of the two housings 30 may be coupled to a coupler 21 with hoses 22 (FIG. 1) for allowing the fluid or liquid or air to flow into the upper chambers 35 of the housings 30 through the coupler 21, and the outlet ports 38 of the two housings 30 may also be coupled to another coupler 23 with hoses 24 for allowing the fluid or liquid or air to selectively flow out of the lower chambers 36 of the housings 30 through the other coupler 23.

As shown in FIG. 2, the receptacle 10 may further include a number of cavities 14 formed in the base member 11 for receiving the outlet ports 38 of the housings 30 and for anchoring or positioning the housings 30 to the base member 11, and the housings 30 may further include one or more studs or pegs 39 extended downwardly therefrom, such as extended downwardly from the other housing member 31 (FIGS. 2, 3) for selectively engaging with the cavities 14 of the receptacle 10 and for further anchoring or positioning the housings 30 to the base member 11. The housings 30 may further be solidly coupled and secured to the base member 11 with such as adhesive materials, welding processes, latches or fasteners (not shown), or the like.

As also shown in FIGS. 3-7, the housing 30 further includes a peripheral wall or casing 40 protruded or extended from the housing member 32 and having a space 41 formed in the casing 40, and further includes one or more orifices 42 formed therein and communicating with the upper chamber 35 of the housing 30 and the space 41 of the casing 40 (FIGS. 4, 6-7), and further includes one or more apertures 43 formed therein and communicating with the lower chamber 36 of the housing 30 and the space 41 of the casing 40 (FIGS. 5-7), A bladder 50 is attached or secured onto the casing 40 of each of the housings 30 and includes a compartment 51 formed therein (FIGS. 3-7) and communicating with the space 41 of the casing 40.

The bladders 50 are deformable or compressible and expandable to pump or force the air or water or fluid or liquid to flow through the orifices 42 or the apertures 43 of the housing 30, which will be discussed hereinafter. The housing 30 further includes a hook or retainer 44 provided thereon, such as formed integral with or extended from the housing member 32, or the retainer 44 includes a dovetail member 45 slidably engaged in a dovetail slot 46 of the housing member 32 or of the housing 30, and a latch or stop 47 is also slidably engaged with the dovetail slot 46 of the housing member 32 and secured to the housing 30 and engaged with the retainer 44 for stably or solidly anchoring or securing the retainer 44 to the housing 30. The housing 30 further includes one or more projections or catches 48 extended therefrom and located close to or beside the dovetail slot 46 of the housing member 32 and the retainer 44.

An arm 52 is further provided and attached or coupled to each of the bladders 50 for depressing or compressing and expanding the bladders 50 respectively. The arms 52 each includes a middle portion attached or coupled to the bladders 50 respectively, and one end 53 hooked or pivotally coupled to the housing 30 with the retainers 44 (FIGS. 1-2, 4-5), for example, a roller or pivot pin 54 is attached to the one end 53 of each arm 52 for pivotally engaging with the retainer 44 and for pivotally coupling the one end 53 of each arm 52 to the housing member 32 of the housing 30, and each includes a magnet or magnetic member 55 attached thereto, such as attached to the other end 56 of the arm 52 for acting or operating with the electro-magnetic device 20. The catches 48 may be engaged with the one ends 53 of the arms 52 and/or the pivot pins 54 for anchoring or securing the arms 52 and/or the pivot pins 54 to the housing 30.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-5, the electro-magnetic device 20 is disposed and located close to or beside the magnetic members 55 of the arms 52, for generating electro-magnetic field or force to force or to move the magnetic members 55 toward each other and/or away from each other (FIG. 5) in order to actuate the arms 52 to depress or compress and expand the bladders 50 respectively, and thus to force the air or water or fluid or liquid to flow between the compartments 51 of the bladders 50 and/or the spaces 41 of the casings 40 and the chambers 35, 36, of the housing 30, or to pump the air or water or fluid or liquid to flow through the coupler 21 and the inlet ports 37 and into the upper chamber 35 of the housing 30, and/or to flow out of the lower chambers 36 of the housings 30 through the outlet ports 38 of the housings 30 and the other coupler 23.

Two check valves 60, 61 each includes a shank 62 extended therefrom for engaging through the casing 40 respectively, and each further includes a ratchet catch 63 provided on the shank 62, for engaging with the casing 40 and for anchoring or securing the check valves 60, 61 to the casing 40 and between the bladders 50 and the chambers 35, 36, of the housing 30 and/or of the casings 40 respectively. Each of the check valves 60, 61 includes a resilient blade 64 formed or provided on one end of the shank 62 for selectively blocking or opening the orifices 42 or the apertures 43 of the housing 30 respectively in order to control the flowing of the air or water or fluid or liquid between the compartments 51 of the bladders 50 and/or the spaces 41 of the casings 40 and the chambers 35, 36 of the housing 30.

For example, when the magnetic members 55 are forced or moved toward each other or when the bladders 50 are expanded by the arms 52, the check valves 60 may be opened by the bladders 50 (FIG. 4) to allow the air or water or fluid or liquid to be drawn form the upper chamber 35 of the housing 30 into the space 41 of the casing 40 and the compartment 51 of the bladder 50, and to allow the air or water or fluid or liquid to be drawn through the coupler 21 and the inlet ports 37 of the housing 30 and then to be drawn into the upper chamber 35 of the housing 30. At this moment, the other check valve 61 will be forced to block the apertures 43 of the housing 30 (FIG. 6) by the bladder 50 to prevent the fluid or liquid from flowing backward form the lower chamber 36 of the housing 30 toward the compartment 51 of the bladder 50, and thus to allow the fluid or liquid to be drawn from the upper chamber 35 of the housing 30 into the compartment 51 of the bladder 50 only.

On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 5, when the magnetic members 55 are forced or moved away from each other by the electro-magnetic device 20, the bladders 50 may be depressed or compressed by the arms 52, and the other check valve 61 may be opened by the bladder 50 to allow the fluid or liquid to be forced to flow form the compartment 51 of the bladder 50 toward or into the lower chamber 36 of the housing 30 and then to allow the fluid or liquid to flow out of the housing 30 through the outlet ports 38 of the housing 30 or the other coupler 23. At this moment, the check valve 60 will be forced to close the upper chamber 35 of the housing 30 (FIG. 7) and to prevent the fluid or liquid from flowing backward form the compartment 51 of the bladder 50 into the upper chamber 35 of the housing 30.

In operation, the fluid or liquid may be drawn to flow into the upper chamber 35 of the housing 30 through the inlet port 37 of the housing 30 (FIGS. 4, 6), and then to flow form the upper chamber 35 of the housing 30 into the compartment 51 of the bladder 50 when the bladders 50 are expanded in the configuration or arrangement as shown in FIGS. 4, 6. The fluid or liquid may then be forced to flow form the compartment 51 of the bladder 50 into the lower chamber 36 of the housing 30 and then to flow out through the outlet port 38 of the housing 30 when the bladders 50 are depressed or compressed by the arm 52, such that the fluid or liquid may be pumped to flow into the inlet port 37 of the housing 30 and then to flow out of the inlet port 38 of the housing 30 by the bladders 50 step by step.

The arms 52 and the magnetic member 55 and the electro-magnetic device 20 may thus be formed as an actuating means or device for depressing or compressing or pumping the bladders 50 to draw the fluid or liquid or air into the upper chamber 35 of the housing 30 through the inlet port 37 of the housing 30, and then to force the fluid or liquid to flow into the other or lower chamber 36 of the housing 30, and then to force the fluid or liquid to flow out through the outlet port 38 of the housing 30. The magnetic member 55 and the electro-magnetic device 20 may thus be formed as an operating means or device for actuating or operating the arms 52 to depress or compress or pump or to expand the bladders 50 and to pump the fluid or liquid to flow into the inlet port 37 of the housing 30 and to flow out through the outlet port 38 of the housing 30.

As shown in FIGS. 3-5, the housing 30 may further include one or more protrusions or projections 49 extended into each of the chambers 35, 36 of the housing 30 for interfering the flowing of the fluid or liquid and for generating an eddy current for the fluid or liquid. Again, it is to be noted and emphasized that the outlet port 38 is formed or provided on the lower portion of the housing 30 such that the fluid or liquid received in the lower chamber 36 of the housing 30 may be effectively and completely forced to flow out of the lower chamber 36 of the housing 30 and to flow out through the outlet port 38 of the housing 30.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 8-13, the diaphragm pumping device 301 may include two housing members 321 attached or secured together and arranged to have the upper chambers 35 of the housing members 321 communicated with each other, and also arranged to have the lower chambers 36 of the housing members 321 communicated with each other, and the bladders 50 are also attached to the casings 40 respectively and engaged with the arms 52 and arranged to have the bladders 50 to be compressed by the arms 52 in order to pump the fluid or liquid to flow into the inlet port 37 of the housing members 321 and to flow out through the outlet port 38 of the housing members 321. The retainer 441 may be solidly anchored or secured to or formed integral with the housing 30.

Further alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 14-16, the diaphragm pumping device 302 may also include two housing members 322 attached or secured together and arranged to have the upper chambers 35 of the housing members 322 communicated with each other, and also arranged to have the lower chambers 36 of the housing members 322 communicated with each other, and the bladders 50 are also attached to the casings 40 respectively and engaged with the arms 52 and arranged to have the bladders 50 to be compressed by the arms 52 in order to pump the fluid or liquid to flow into the inlet port 37 of the housing members 322 and to flow out through the outlet port 38 of the housing members 322. The retainer 44 may also include a dovetail member 45 slidably engaged in the dovetail slot 46 of the housing members 322, and a latch or stop 47 is also slidably engaged with the dovetail slot 46 of the housing member 322 and engaged with the retainer 44 for stably or solidly anchoring or securing the retainer 44 to the housing 30.

Accordingly, the diaphragm pumping device in accordance with the present invention may be actuated or operated by an electric actuating device, and may be used for vacuuming or air pumping purposes and for allowing the fluid to be effectively pumped.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A diaphragm pumping device comprising: a housing including a partition provided therein to separate an inner portion of said housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said housing including an inlet port provided thereon and communicating with said upper chamber thereof for receiving a fluid, and including an outlet port provided thereon and communicating with said lower chamber thereof, a bladder attached to said housing and including a compartment formed therein and communicating with said upper chamber and said lower chamber of said housing, a first check valve attached to said housing and disposed between said bladder and said upper chamber of said housing and arranged to allow the fluid to flow from said upper chamber of said housing into said bladder only and to prevent the fluid from flowing backward from said bladder into said upper chamber of said housing, a second check valve attached to said housing and disposed between said bladder and said lower chamber of said housing and arranged to allow the fluid to flow from said bladder into said lower chamber of said housing only and to prevent the fluid from flowing backward from said lower chamber of said housing into said bladder, an arm attached to said bladder, a magnetic member attached to said arm, and an electro-magnetic device to actuate said magnetic member and to operate said arm to depress and to expand said bladder in order to draw the fluid form said inlet port of said housing toward said outlet port of said housing.
 2. The diaphragm pumping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes an orifice and an aperture formed therein and communicating with said upper and said lower chambers of said housing respectively, said first and said second check valves each includes a shank extended therefrom for engaging through said housing, and each includes a ratchet catch provided on said shank for engaging with said housing to anchor and secure said first and said second check valves to said housing, and each includes a blade provided on said shank for engaging with said housing and for selectively blocking said orifice and said aperture of said housing respectively.
 3. The diaphragm pumping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a retainer provided thereon, and said arm includes a first end pivotally coupled to said retainer of said housing, and a second end having said magnetic member attached thereto.
 4. The diaphragm pumping device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said housing includes a dovetail slot formed therein, and said retainer includes a dovetail member slidably engaged in said dovetail slot of said housing.
 5. The diaphragm pumping device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said housing includes a stop slidably engaged with said dovetail slot of said housing and engaged with said retainer for anchoring said retainer to said housing.
 6. The diaphragm pumping device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said housing includes at least one catch extended therefrom and located beside said dovetail slot of said housing member and said retainer for engaging with said arm and for anchoring said arm to said housing.
 7. The diaphragm pumping device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said arm includes a pivot pin attached to said first end of said arm and engaged with said retainer.
 8. The diaphragm pumping device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an outer receptacle including a base member to support said housing and said electro-magnetic device.
 9. The diaphragm pumping device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said outer receptacle includes at least one cushioning member to cushion said housing and said electro-magnetic device. 